NCH Rooney Heart Institute Announces another First in Florida

NCH Rooney Heart Institute First in Florida to use Next Generation Catheter for Treating Coronary Artery Disease

NCH Rooney Heart Institute recently became the first in Florida to utilize the new Shockwave C2 AERO™ coronary catheter to treat patients with calcified coronary artery disease, marking another major milestone for NCH, the Cath Lab team, and Southwest Florida. Since the Shockwave Intravascular Lithotripsy (IVL) system was first introduced in 2021, it has revolutionized how cardiologists treat hardened calcium buildup inside heart arteries. The technology uses carefully controlled sound waves to gently break up the calcium without harming nearby healthy tissue, allowing doctors to safely widen the artery and restore blood flow.

“Calcium buildup can make stent procedures difficult, risky, and time-consuming,” said Vincent Siebert, MD, interventional cardiologist at NCH Rooney Heart Institute. “The Shockwave system lets us treat these challenging cases more safely and effectively, helping patients recover faster and get back to their daily lives.”

The procedure works by inserting a specialized balloon catheter into the narrowed artery. When activated, the catheter delivers short bursts of sonic energy similar to the technology used to break up kidney stones. These sound waves create tiny fractures in the calcium deposits, softening the blockage so the artery can be expanded and stented more easily. Unlike older methods that use high-pressure tools to grind or cut through calcium, Shockwave IVL minimizes trauma to the vessel, reduces complications, and shortens procedure time – the new Shockwave C2 AERO™ catheter represents the latest evolution of this technology.

Dr. Robert Cubeddu

“NCH’s rapid adoption of the Shockwave C2 AERO technology reflects our commitment to bringing the most advanced cardiovascular treatments available anywhere to our patients right here in Collier County,” said Robert Cubeddu, Brynne and Bob Coletti Endowed Chair and President of NCH Rooney Heart Institute. “It’s another example of how we’re continually improving access to world-class heart care close to home.

The introduction of this cutting-edge device underscores the NCH Rooney Heart Institute’s role as a regional leader in cardiovascular innovation. “This represents yet another first for Southwest Florida,” added Dr. Siebert. “We’re proud to offer our community the latest advances in cardiac care and continue our mission to save lives through innovation.”

ABOUT NCH
NCH (Naples Comprehensive Health) is an Advanced Community Healthcare System™ serving Southwest Florida with premier routine, critical, and specialty care. NCH, a locally governed non-profit, is recognized as one of Healthgrades America’s Top 50 Hospitals which puts it in the top 1% in the nation for clinical excellence, in addition to being named a Top 50 Hospital for Surgical Care. The system is more than just two hospitals (referred to as the NCH Baker Hospital and NCH North Hospital) with more than 700 beds – NCH is an alliance of over 750 physicians and medical facilities in dozens of locations throughout Southwest Florida and is the region’s only Joint Commission accredited Comprehensive Stroke Center. NCH cardiac care is ranked top three in the state by Healthgrades. NCH collaborates with the Hospital for Special Surgery for orthopedics, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital for pediatrics, and ProScan Imaging for radiology services, ensuring top-tier medical care is available in Southwest Florida. With the largest provider network, urgent/immediate care centers, diagnostic facilities, and two hospitals, NCH is always advancing the quality of care near you. For more information, visit www.NCHmd.org.